this post was submitted on 17 Jul 2025
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Funny: Home of the Haha

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[–] sk1nnym1ke@piefed.social 32 points 1 day ago (26 children)

As a German I don't understand why the USA basically do have two political parties. I know there are technically other parties but they have no impact.

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 98 points 1 day ago (11 children)
  1. Because first past the post electoral systems always result in a 2 party system due to defensive voting.

  2. Because Americans didn't listen to George Washington, when during his farewell address he strongly cautioned against "alternate domination" of a 2 party system.

  3. Because Americans are woefully uneducated, dis-interested, and preoccupied.

[–] dylanmorgan@sh.itjust.works 15 points 1 day ago (5 children)

There’s some structural reasons (the senate, primarily) that American politics will almost inevitably devolve into two parties.

If I could do one thing to fix American politics it would be to abolish the senate, which gives low population states an insanely unbalanced level of influence over national politics.

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

(the senate, primarily)

Fair point! In Canada our senate is appointed by the Prime Minister and the position is lifetime. They rarely reject bills from the lower house.

[–] dylanmorgan@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Wow, I didn’t realize there even was a Canadian senate, I only ever hear about parliament and figured it was all MPs.

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago

Exactly lol. All commonwealths have an upper and lower house just like the USA. I believe their senates are appointed as well, though I have not verified that.

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